Sweynesse, with the strongest form coming out of the record-breaking Spring Stakes at Randwick, firmed from $38 to $21 with Betfair, and Almalad from $70 to $34.

Like Almalad, Wandjina, also trained by Gai Waterhouse, had support into $36.

Obviously Australasia's weight-for-age championship run at Moonee Valley has not been a happy hunting ground for top fancies during the past 11 years, and only two scored.

However the credentials of Fawkner, at $5 first pick in the market yesterday with betting exchange, are hard to fault.

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"The genuine speed set up by The Cleaner will separate the wheat from the chaff, and leave the genuine WFA horses Fawkner, Sacred Falls and Criterion to fight the finish," Betfair's Daniel Bevan said. "I'm with Fawkner."